Wedding Party
Amy Belanger
Maid of Honor
Amy (“Am”), has been my best friend since we were freshmen in high school (over 15 years of friendship)! We met through Saddleback Church’s HSM life group and quickly became close. Amy is inspiring as she worked full time while getting her Masters of Marriage & Family Therapy. She has a passion for helping others, and is such an intentional friend. Amy is wise, patient, silly, and loyal. I am so thankful to have her stand by me on this special day and couldn’t imagine getting married without her!
Macie Reed
Maid of Honor
Macie (“Mace”, “Baby Girl”, “BB”), is my wonderful sister that God blessed me with! She is so smart, servant-hearted, a great listener, and techy beyond my understanding. She has always been small, but mighty! Mace inspires me to be independent and tough. I love spending time with her and some of my favorite memories together were our canyon drives listening to the newest Taylor Swift or Ed Sheeran album. Mace is fiercely loyal and I am so thankful to have her stand by me on this special day and couldn’t imagine getting married without her!
Julie Newell
Bridesmaid
Julie (“Jules”) radiates light and joy to everyone she meets! She is a true Proverbs 31 woman and she inspires me to be a better one too. She has a passion for helping others through her job as a therapist and is a phenomenal listener. She does it all as she also is a Yoga instructor in her free time! She truly helps people heal in mind, body, and Spirit! Jules and I met a few years ago through a co-ed Saddleback Life Group. After meeting her the first night I knew I wanted us to be close friends because of her love for Jesus, others, and life! I had the pleasure of being in her wedding in October 2023, and I am so thankful to have her stand by me now on my special day. I couldn’t imagine getting married without her!
Sarah Macias
Bridesmaid
Sarah (“Sarah Bear, “SB”), has been with me since day one! We were destined to be best friends since we met at age 4 and attended the same Christian pre-school and church growing up. God truly knew I needed Sarah Bear in my life forever! Sarah has the most beautiful heart as she loves her people deeply. She is the friend who will be there for you no matter what. Her sensitive spirit inspires me to care for others more intentionally. I have loved watching her become an amazing mother in this new season of our friendship. Her daughter, Ellie James, is our precious flower girl! I am so thankful to have her stand by me on this special day and couldn’t imagine getting married without her!
Alyssa Torrico
Bridesmaid
Alyssa (“Lyss”), has the most beautiful smile (and hair) that you’ll ever see, and it’s because of the deep joy that radiates from her heart! I love watching her interact with others because of the purity and grace in which she offers in all her conversations. She inspires me to fully be present with the people I am with. I met Alyssa in college through her husband, Christian, who is one of my close friends. We have grown so close over the years since graduating and I thank God for allowing us to meet through her husband. It’s been so fun watching her naturally step into her role as mommy to her little guy, Micah, this past year. Micah James is our handsome ring bearer! Alyssa’s friendship is so dear to me. I am so thankful to have her stand by me on this special day and couldn’t imagine getting married without her!
Arin Mearig
Bridesmaid
Arin (“Mearig”) was truly a gift that I prayed for going into college! We met our junior year of college at California Baptist University after we both transferred from different schools. We both prayed for a great roommate and God blessed us with each other! We instantly clicked over sports, Jesus, and adventure. Arin inspires me to be persistent in everything I do, to put God first, and to get outside of my comfort zone! Her life is a breathtaking example of all of these things, and I thank God for giving me her to do life with. Arin has a gift for working with students! Whether it’s teaching them a subject in school, coaching them, or just showing up, she does it with her whole heart! She is authentic and that makes it easy for her to connect with them and encourage them to be the best versions of themselves! She is also a wonderful auntie to her niece and nephew! I am so thankful to have her stand by me on this special day and couldn’t imagine getting married without her!
Brenda D’haenens
Bridesmaid
Brenda (“B”) has the most beautiful and carefree spirit! I met her through Thomas as she is his amazing sister. I’ve always prayed to be close to my husband’s family and specifically to his sister if he had one. I am so thankful that God allowed Brenda to be my sister in law and even more than that, another sister to me! She has a passion for exploring, adventuring, and helping people reach their fullest potential. Brenda inspires me to take chances and to not take life for granted. She is always positive and loves helping others grow. I can’t wait to continue deepening our friendship as the years go by. I am so thankful to have her stand by me on this special day and couldn’t imagine getting married without her!
Melissa Reed
Bridesmaid
Melissa (“Mel”) is such an answer to prayer! I also have always prayed that I would be close to my brother’s wife, and wow did God deliver! Melissa is so much fun to be around, stands rooted in her convictions, and always shows up for her people. She inspires me to work hard and to never give up! I have loved seeing her growth this past year, and I always leave feeling refreshed after spending time with her. Melissa is a boss lady, workout beast, and dancing queen. She is the best wife for my brother! My beautiful sister in law is also due in April with their first baby (my first ever niece!!). God is so good! I am so blessed by our friendship and love her as my other sister. I am so thankful to have her stand by me on this special day and couldn’t imagine getting married without her!
Saïdja Van Couter
Best Man
Saïdja and I go way back to our 2nd year of high school (or 8th grade for Americans). He was the new kid, sitting alone in the cafeteria, so I joined him — and that moment sparked a friendship that’s still going strong. Saïdja is the guy you can always count on. He’s incredibly skilled with anything technical — bikes, HVACs, robot mowers, you name it! We’ve shared countless adventures, late-night drinks and weekly games of tennis and padel (think tennis meets squash). Afterward, we always reward ourselves with burgers from our favorite Belgian spot, Quick. Sadly, Quick wasn’t an option for the wedding, so I hope the In-N-Out truck will do! Thrilled to have you by my side on this special day, Saïdja!
James Vanbiervliet
Best Man
James and I first met during our freshman year at university — we were both late to class and ended up sitting at the back. We hit it off right away, bonding over our favorite Drum 'n Bass artists. From study sessions in the library to nights out (including Tomorrowland), we quickly became close friends. Even after switching studies, we stayed in touch, and James has remained one of my best friends. He’s the kind of friend you can always pick up with right where you left off. We share a love for exploring Asian cuisine, going to Indie/Electronic concerts and purposely crashing into each other in virtual Formula 1 races. I’m so grateful to have him by my side on this unforgettable day.
Kwinten Waelkens
Groomsman
Every groom needs a defensive midfielder on their team and Kwinten is mine - the Axel Witsel (Belgian footballer) of the lineup, a "metronome" keeping everything steady and on point. I met Kwinten when I was around 17. We spent Friday after-school evenings in Gent’s city centre, where a "little" too much drinking may have been involved (has that really changed, though?). The legal drinking age in Belgium is 16 years, it's part of our beer culture. Over the past two years, we’ve reconnected through epic adventures like a boys’ trip with our friend Luis (including an epic Champions League semi-final: Manchester City vs Real Madrid) and double dates with him and his girlfriend, Louise. Adding to his charm, Kwinten has a cute black Shiba Inu named Ryo.
Bradley Soendlin
Groomsman
Bradley is my gym buddy and the guy who makes sure that I never skip leg day. We first met on the day I flew to California to see Kaylee again, during an unforgettable Halloween Tchami (DJ) party. Bradley used to live in the UK and is a Leicester City fan, which made it easy to bond over a shared appreciation for European culture and football. Since then, we’ve talked a lot and he’s had my back from day one. Bradley lives with Kaylee’s parents, so I get to see him often! He’s getting married at the end of April 2025, so he might have some tips to make our wedding even more unforgettable! Bradley has a massive vinyl collection, with 100% certainty beats you at Mario Kart and knows everything about Chicago and its sports teams.
Jacob Reed
Groomsman
Meet my awesome groomsman, Jacob! Jacob is Kaylee's brother and also Melissa's husband (one of Kaylee's bridesmaids). Over the past year, I’ve loved getting to know him better. He works at Tesla (he even got me behind the wheel of a Cybertruck!), crushes it in the gym and is a blast to play pickleball with. Jacob has a servant's heart, a kind spirit and is about to become a proud girl dad this April! He’s also a big fan of Zach Bryan and loves diving into the world of crypto. Grateful to have him by my side on this special day.
Lennerd De Mol
Groomsman
Lennerd is Brenda’s boyfriend (Brenda is my amazing sister) and he’s the guy who takes care of my cat Cyriel, whenever I’m visiting Kaylee in California. Lennerd loves going for a run and is a regular on the padel court. Ask him about his fun moonball or many travel adventures. He’s always love sharing a story. Fun fact: I first met Lennerd when Brenda brought him home to my parents’ place, just a few days after I returned from a multiple month work assignment in Lake Forest, CA. Great timing runs in the family!
Charles Newell
Groomsman
Charlie (a.k.a. "Charlie") may be the last groomsman on the list, but he’s definitely not least in our hearts! He's the kind of guy you can always catch up with, ideally while eating his amazing tacos. Charles is also our go-to impromptu photographer, stepping up big time when he had to capture a very special proposal in Tuscany (yes, ours - thanks, Charlie!). If you’re from Belgium, here’s a fun fact: he’s a big fan of La Chouffe beer!